by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS - Louisville is headed back to the Final Four, and this time looks every bit the part of overwhelming favorite.

After getting an emotional shock in the first half of Sunday's Midwest Regional final when guard Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome leg injury, the No. 1 overall seeded Cardinals regrouped and pulled away from No. 2 seed Duke, 85-63, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Tied at 42 with less than 16 minutes remaining, Louisville rattled off a 20-4 run and had no problems putting away the Blue Devils, who were the second-highest ranked team left in the tournament.

Though Louisville's energy and focus clearly wavered in the moments following the chaotic scene around Ware, the Cardinals' speed and aggressiveness eventually proved to be too much.

After a 3-point play by guard Russ Smith put Louisville back in front 45-42, guard Peyton Siva took over the game, penetrating his way to two easy buckets and opening the high post for center Gorgui Dieng, who made three jumpers from the foul line area.

Duke, which had beaten Louisville 76-71 back on Nov. 24, couldn't keep Louisville's guards out of the paint all game. The Cardinals made just 2-of-13 from the 3-point line but shot 52.7 percent overall, with Smith accouting for 23 points and Siva scoring 16. Louisville held Duke to 19-of-52 from the field.

The victory puts Pitino in his seventh Final Four. But as opposed to last year, when Louisville was a surprise entrant and lost to eventual champion Kentucky, the Cardinals will be the team to beat. Pitino's only national title came in 1996 when he was coach at Kentucky.

Louisville also denied Duke's Mike Krzyzewski's his 12th Final Four appearance, which would have tied John Wooden for the most in history.